Mieliepop is the prettiest festival of the lot, with the exception maybe of Splashy Fen. Situated somewhere in Mpumulanga between Bethal and the Swazi border, it is full of man made waterfalls, lots of green, green grass, caves for disco dancing and a big, gentle dam. The festival ran last weekend from 2 – 5 October.
We were situated across the dam from the main stage area in the VIP section. The tents were already set up for us and the beds were made. As we were unloading, a barge packed with party people and a Scottish band of bagpipes came floating past. Waves and hollering all round ensued. So, how do we get to the music we wondered. No way, no feckin way! Lazing a few metres away from the camp site was a speed boat, our transport to the music that would be Nakhane Toure, Wonderboom, Radio Kalahari Orkes, Dave Ferguson, Shortstraw, Southern Gypsy Queens and a host of other fantastical South African bands.
As we hopped on the boat and it sped off, life felt so very, very good. I felt like those glam 50s movie stars on the French Riviera but in Africa.
The stage is tiny as the festival is still growing. This made for nice up close and personal encounters with bands we normally see on the big festivals like Oppikoppi and Rocking the Daisies. The festival is aimed at the older market but was attended by younger people too. There were also a few toddlers running around safely.
Unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worst, so after watching Die See we hopped back on the speed boat for warmth around a fire. The mist soon came and the weather became icy. While the calls of Southern Gypsy Queen were strong, there was no way I was leaving the warmth of base camp and the blankets to travel through the mist back to the stage. Hell, to the no.
The next day, however, the sun came up and we were back to feeling like we were in the French Riviera but in Africa. All down the dam revellers were lying in lilos nursing their dops under the hot afternoon sun.
The music for the day was kick started with The Hip Replacements (pictured below) featuring Steve Howe. This infamous but legendary drummer was in the country for the Shifty celebration. This time he was not on drums – he decided to join saxophonist Harvey Roberts on the horn section with a trumpet.
The band were so cool. These fifty somethings in their dark glasses had an absolute jol on stage. Their happiness was so infectious they had the small crowd dancing in the sunshine. Nakhane Toure took a while to get on stage which meant that we only saw half his act, as the Springboks versus the All Blacks took precedence.
Here we stumbled across another bar with only one television screen where everyone was crammed into. However, outside, another man made pool and waterfall had people floating in lilos. Whoever the owner is had a big vision for his little getaway, which also includes chalets when there is no rock music festival happening.
The party went on late into the night with some of our best bands in the land entertaining the people. Mieliepop is a definite for any festival goer, but my advice is to go sooner rather than later as the intimacy is one of the best aspects of the festival.